The body of Elisabeth Jane Ross, 38, from Edinburgh, was found at approximately 1pm on 18 July by a homeless man on Evelpidon Street in the Kypseli area of Athens. Local police said Ross, also known as Lisa, had been dead for around eight days and showed no visible injuries or obvious signs of a struggle.
Greek police are reportedly treating a homeless man known as Markos as a prime suspect. Markos is understood to have regularly slept rough in the abandoned building where the suitcase was discovered, but has not been seen since the area became a crime scene, prompting a search across the city.
Witness account
Hamid Reza, a 67-year-old homeless man living in a temporary shelter near where the body was found, told the Daily Mail that police informed him Markos is their primary suspect. He said: "They want to find and question him very quickly. They have been asking a lot of people and driving around the area looking for him."
Reza added: "Everybody knows that Markos carries a knife, and local women are scared of him. He was always around this area, even living in the car park, but nobody has seen him since the body was discovered."
Suspect described
Markos is reported to be around 40 years old with extensive tattoos across his body. The Daily Record said authorities have focused their investigation on him because of a history of heavy drinking, drug use and aggressive or threatening behaviour, particularly towards women.
A Greek police source said detectives are examining his potential involvement, but stressed the information was not reported at the time and has only emerged in recent days. "We have a lead on a homeless man. We want to question a particular individual. But we are also looking for a number of other people as part of this investigation," the source said.
Final movements
Ross is believed to have arrived in Greece from the United States via Cyprus on 29 June. Investigators are working to piece together her final movements and trace anyone who may have encountered her before her death.
Police said messages were sent from her mobile phone in the days following her death, continuing until she was identified through media coverage. Her father, who lives in Edinburgh, is thought to have received messages between 15 and 29 July. The phone has not been recovered, and a Greek officer said it was "being used to make people believe she was still alive."
Kypseli visit
Ross had been staying with Greek friends in the Keratsini area, who have been ruled out of any involvement. She told them on 15 July she planned to stay with Americans she knew in Kypseli. Reports now suggest police are questioning whether those acquaintances exist, as they have not been located.
A police spokesman said: "We do not yet know who the people she visited (in Kypseli) are, nor whether they are Americans or if they even exist. We are trying to find out where she went and who she stayed with."
Identification
Ross was not identified at the scene because she reportedly had no identification on her. She was described as around 30 years old, about 5ft 4in tall, with reddish hair secured in a bun, wearing black shorts bearing a French university logo and a T-shirt.
The rough sleeper made the discovery after following an unpleasant odour inside the derelict building, which had been vacant for two years, and noticed a human limb protruding from a suitcase.
Investigation continues
A post-mortem examination is scheduled to take place. Greek authorities have brought in Interpol and US investigators to help. On Monday, Interpol informed the Hellenic Police that DNA analysis confirmed the body was that of a British woman.
Police Scotland is working with Greek authorities and offering support to Ross's family. No formal suspect has been identified at this stage. A force spokesperson said: "We are aware of the death of Scottish woman in Athens and are liaising with authorities in Greece. Officers are providing support to her family in Scotland."
A UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office spokesperson said: "Our thoughts are with Elisabeth's family during this difficult time. We are providing consular support and are in contact with the local authorities."
